Recording and reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a recording means for storing a plurality of images in groups; a display means for displaying images stored in the recording means; a detecting means for detecting a part of a human body or an object in a predetermined form; and a display switching means for switching images to be displayed on the display means in accordance with a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting means.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-302555 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Nov.22, 2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatusthat improves ease of operation in searching for an object image in alarge number of images, for example.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, the capacity of a semiconductor memory is increasingmore and more and prices thereof are lower and lower. Even portableappliances such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and a digitalcamera use a large capacity semiconductor memory. Thus, the number ofimages that can be recorded on a single recording medium continues toincrease, and such an interface is demanded that finds an object imagein a large number of images recorded on a recording medium with a simpleoperation for a short time.

Among this kind of interfaces, the most popular is a scheme in which aplurality of thumbnails are collectively displayed and these thumbnailsare in turn advanced with a cross key, a jog dial or the like. However,the display area provided on a portable appliance is narrow because thearea is proportional to the case size. As the result, when thumbnailsare displayed, the total number of thumbnails displayed at one timebecomes small, which causes a disadvantage that it is difficult toconduct a file search. In addition, it is necessary to mount a cross keyor a jog dial on a portable appliance for operations, which also causesa problem that the case becomes larger correspondingly, or the displayarea becomes narrower.

As a means for solve the former problem, in recent years, such a schemeis proposed that thumbnails are arranged three-dimensionally to allow auser to easily confirm a large number of thumbnails even in a narrowdisplay area of a small sized portable appliance for facilitating a filesearch as disclosed in Patent Reference 1 (JP-A-2000-105772).

In addition, in order to solve the latter problem, such a scheme isproposed that a touch panel is mounted to eliminate an input device suchas a cross key or a jog dial for improving ease of use in searching foran object image in a large number of images as disclosed in PatentReference 2 (JP-A-2006-40050)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the scheme according to Patent Reference 1, thethree-dimensional arrangement of thumbnails allows the improvement ofvisibility. However, because the scheme considers mounting a cross key,a jog dial, a touch panel, or the like as to ease of operation of aninterface, there are no differences from existing portable appliances.

In addition, also in the scheme according to Patent Reference 2, theelimination of an input device such as a cross key or a jog dialprovides the improvement of visibility as the display area is increased.However, because of mounting a touch panel, the touch panel according tothe invention of Patent Reference 2 can provide only such inputoperations, “press”, “release” and a simple “rotation”. As the result,the functions of the cross key and the jog dial are merely reproduced onthe touch panel, and as to ease of operation, there are no greatimprovements in ease of operation as compared with the cross key and thejog dial.

Heretofore, the portable appliance has small buttons, a small cross keyor a small touch panel because of the smallness of its case. On thisaccount, its ease of operation is not always excellent, and it isdemanded to provide a user interface with excellent ease of operationinstead of these small sized components. In addition, the interfacesbefore often ask users to read manuals for practices, and there is aproblem that it is difficult for unskilled users to operate a portableappliance by intuition.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a recording and reproducing apparatusthat has an intuitive interface function by which ease of operation isimproved in searching for an object image in a large number of imageseven on a small sized appliance such as a portable appliance.

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a recording andreproducing apparatus including: a recording means for storing aplurality of images in groups; a display means for displaying imagesstored in the recording means; a detecting means for detecting a part ofa human body or an object in a predetermined form; and a displayswitching means for switching images to be displayed on the displaymeans in accordance with a form of a part of a human body or a form ofan object detected by the detecting means.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to another embodimentof the invention, when a form of a part of a human body or a form of anobject detected by the detecting means is a first form, the displayswitching means displays a first object that switches the displayedimage so as to move the first object together with a motion of the partof the human body or the object in the first form.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, when a form of a part of a human body or aform of an object detected by the detecting means is a second form, thedisplay switching means displays a second object that switches thedisplayed image so as to move the second object together with a motionof the part of the human body or the object in the second form, and thedisplay switching means moves the displayed image as the displayed imagemoving together with the motion of the part of the human body or theobject for switching.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, when a form of a part of a human body or aform of an object detected by the detecting means is a third form, thedisplay switching means displays a third object that switches thedisplayed image so as to move the third object together with a motion ofthe part of the human body or the object in the third form, and thedisplay switching means moves the displayed image as the displayed imagemoving together with the motion of the part of the human body or theobject for switching.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, when a rate of travel of the part of thehuman body or the object in the second form detected by the detectingmeans is a predetermined speed or above, the display switching meansmoves the image faster than an image travel rate when the rate of travelis a predetermined speed or below.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, when a rate of travel of the part of thehuman body or the object in the third form detected by the detectingmeans is a predetermined speed or above, the display switching meansmoves the image faster than an image travel rate when the rate of travelis a predetermined speed or below.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, the display means horizontally displaysimages in a main group at a center, and displays images in a groupadjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in themain group.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, the display switching means moves thedisplayed image horizontally.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to a still anotherembodiment of the invention, the display switching means moves thedisplayed image vertically.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, the detecting means has a CCD or a CMOSimager, and the display means has a liquid crystal panel.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, the detecting means and display means areconfigured by a liquid crystal panel having an optical sensorincorporated therein.

In a recording and reproducing apparatus according to still anotherembodiment of the invention, the display means displays a group name ofimages in the main group simultaneously.

According to the embodiments of the invention, when a user is desired tofind an object image in a large number of images recorded on a recordingmedium of the recording and reproducing apparatus, the user can operatethe apparatus by intuition according to a part of a human body or anobject in a predetermined form, a gesture of fingers, for example,without touching a product. Thus, the user can quickly find the objectimage in an excellent ease of operation with no influence of the size ofthe product. Particularly, in a small-sized appliance such as a digitalcamera and a PDA on which it is difficult to mount a button or a touchpanel in the size of an excellent ease of operation, the embodiment ofthe invention is effective.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the invention, depending ona form of a part of a human body or a form of an object, that is, forexample, gestures of fingers allow instructions of a plurality ofdifferent operations. Thus, it is unnecessary to provide buttons or thelike corresponding to different operations as before, which eliminatesproviding extra buttons on the product or showing icons for operationson the screen, and allows the display screen to be extended by thewidened space or the product to be made smaller. In addition, for thegestures of fingers, the motions to think of the operations that a userdoes in daily life are adapted. Thus, it is unnecessary for the user todo particular practices, and the user can operate an appliance byintuition.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the invention, thedisplayed image can be moved at high speed, and the object image can befound more quickly.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the invention, not only theimages in the main group but also the images in the adjacent group canbe visually seen for an easy image search.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the invention, theconfiguration of the apparatus can be simplified.

In addition, according to the embodiments of the invention, the groupname of images in the main group can be easily recognized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show diagrams depicting a recording and reproducingapparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1Ashows a front views, and FIG. 1B shows a rear view;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram depicting the recording and reproducingapparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration depicting an exemplary data structurerecorded on a recording part according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows an illustration depicting the arrangement of image data inthe browsing mode in the recording and reproducing apparatus accordingto the embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 5A shows an illustration depicting a display screen, andFIG. 5B shows an external view;

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart depicting the overall operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart partially depicting the operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 8A shows an illustration depicting a display screen, andFIG. 8B shows an external view;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 9A shows an illustration depicting a display screen, andFIG. 9B shows an external view;

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart partially depicting the operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 11A shows an illustration depicting a display screen,and FIG. 11B shows an external view;

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart partially depicting the operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 13A and 13B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 13A shows an illustration depicting a display screen,and FIG. 13B shows an external view;

FIG. 14 shows a flow chart partially depicting the operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 15A and 15B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 15A shows an illustration depicting a display screen,and FIG. 15B shows an external view;

FIG. 16 shows a flow chart partially depicting the operation of therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 17A and 17B show an operating method in the browsing mode in arecording and reproducing apparatus according to a second embodiment ofthe invention, FIG. 17A shows an illustration depicting a displayscreen, and FIG. 17B shows an external view;

FIGS. 18A and 18B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the second embodimentof the invention, FIG. 18A shows an illustration depicting a displayscreen, and FIG. 18B shows an external view; and

FIGS. 19A and 19B show an operating method in the browsing mode in therecording and reproducing apparatus according to the second embodimentof the invention, FIG. 19A shows an illustration depicting a displayscreen, and FIG. 19B shows an external view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the drawings, which are not limited to the followingexemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show external views of a recording and reproducingapparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Therecording and reproducing apparatus 10 is a portable information displayterminal with a camera such as a mobile telephone and a PDA, or adigital still camera, in which as shown in FIG. 1A, a window 11 thattakes in the subject light from a subject, and a lighting window 12 thatthrows fill light toward the subject are provided on the front side of acase. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1B, an image display device 13 suchas an LCD panel is provided on the rear side of the case of therecording and reproducing apparatus 10.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram depicting an exemplary internalconfiguration of the recording and reproducing apparatus 10. In FIG. 2,the light inputted from an optical part 20 (detecting means) having alens, a diaphragm, a filter and the like is subjected to photoelectricconversion by an imaging device such as an imager 21 (detecting means),and is supplied to an A/D converting part 22 that converts analog datainto digital data. The image data converted into digital data isprocessed by a signal processing circuit 23 that compresses still imagedata, and recorded in a recording part 28 (recording means).

The recording part 28 may be a removable recording medium, or may be abuilt-in hard disk or a flash memory. A photographer can turn on and offa power supply and make imaging operations with a manipulating part 26having a power supply switch, a shutter and the like.

The recording and reproducing apparatus 10 has a shooting mode and abrowsing (reproducing) mode, in which in reproducing images, image datastored in the recording part 28 can be read and displayed at any time bya display part 27 (display means) having the image display devise 13.

24 depicts a rewritable flash memory on which setting values for theoutline of image recognition, template images for comparison,predetermined parameters, programs and the like are recorded to be usedfor a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object, forexample, a hand, which is detected by the optical part 20 and the imager21 described below.

25 depicts a CPU (display switching means) that controls processing inthe recording and reproducing apparatus 10, and that reads necessarydata out of the flash memory 24 at any time, computes, writes data tothe recording part 28 and the like. In addition, in FIG. 2, a lightsource that throws fill light, or the like is omitted in the drawing.

For example, the data structure in the recording part 28 is as shown inFIG. 3, and the image data is grouped according to every taken date andtime, or taken place (GPS), and recorded in every group. For instance,when the recording and reproducing apparatus 10 is mounted with a GPS,it is assumed that all the items of image data are grouped at everytaken place based on GPS information when taken.

Next, a display screen and an operating method of the browsing mode inthe recording and reproducing apparatus 10 will be described withreference to FIGS. 4 to 16. In addition, FIG. 6 shows a flow chartdepicting processing executed by the CPU 25.

FIG. 4 shows a display screen 40 of the image display device 13 in thebrowsing mode of the recording and reproducing apparatus 10. On thedisplay screen 40, image data of a group 41 currently browsing isdisplayed in the thumbnail format in two lines at the center of thescreen. In the group 41, portions depicted in a dotted line are portionsoutside the display area of the screen 40. For example, a user can seethe group 41 by scrolling the group 41 horizontally in accordance withintuition operations with a virtual hand, described later.

In addition, a group name 48 of the group 41 is displayed on the displayscreen 40 together with the created date and time and the number ofimages. In addition, a group 42 one group before the group 41 and agroup 43 one group after the group 41 are radially displayed above andbelow the group 41, and groups 44 to 47 following the group 43 are alsoradially arranged outside the display area of the display screen 40. Theuser rotates all of the groups as windmill blades in accordance with theoperations, described later, whereby the user can in turn change thegroup currently browsing.

Here, in Step S1 shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 5B, when a user holdshis/her hand 50 over the opposite surface (the surface of the window 11and the lighting window 12) of the display device 13 with respect to therecording and reproducing apparatus 10, the optical part 20 inside thewindow 11 provided on the recording and reproducing apparatus 10captures the manner as an image therein.

At this time, the lens inside the optical part 20 is fixed to the wideend. In addition, in the case in which the ambient light is too dark totake the user's hand, the lighting window 12 throws fill light fortaking the user's hand lit by the light. Image signals taken through thewindow 11 are inputted to the CPU 25 to detect the position of the handby using image recognition for the area currently taken. For example, asa scheme applicable to image recognition, such a scheme may be namedthat the skin tone distribution is detected based on color informationabout image signals, and the area including the contour of a hand isspecified to compare the area with a plurality of templates of handforms stored in the flash memory 24 in advance for determining whetherthere is a hand.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the user holds the hand 50 in an openhand (first form) as a gesture, the window 11 provided on the recordingand reproducing apparatus 10 captures the manner as an image (Step S1),the CPU 25 determines whether it is an open hand (Step S2). Then, if theCPU 25 determines that it is an open hand, in Step S2-1 in FIG. 7showing a chart A, an icon 51 in an open hand form (first object) isdisplayed on the display screen 40 with a shadow as shown in FIG. 5A.This shadow implies to the user by intuition that the icon 51 does notcontact with the thumbnail on the display screen 40 and the thumbnail isnot operable.

In this state, in Step S2-2 shown in FIG. 7, it is determined whetherthe hand 50 is moved. As shown in FIG. 8B, if it is determined that theuser moves the hand 50 in the directions of an arrow 60, in Step S2-3shown in FIG. 7, the icon 51 on the display screen 40 shown in FIG. 8Ais also similarly moved in the directions of an arrow 61. Other than thedirections of the arrow 60, when the user moves the hand 50 in theimaging area, the icon 51 is moved also on the display screen 40correspondingly. In addition, if the hand 50 is moved out of the imagingarea and the hand is not detected, the icon 51 on the display screen 40is deleted (Step S5 shown in FIG. 6), whereas if the hand 50 againenters the imaging area and the hand is detected, the icon 51 isdisplayed on the display screen 40 (Step 32-1 shown in FIG. 7).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, if the user holds his/her hand 70 inthe state in which the user vertically stands only the index finger(second form), the window 11 provided on the recording and reproducingapparatus 10 captures this manner as an image (Step S1), and the CPU 25determines whether it is the index finger extending vertically (StepS3). If it is determined that it is the index finger extendingvertically, in Step S3-1 in a chart B shown in FIG. 10, an icon 71 in anindex finger form extending vertically (second object) is displayed onthe display screen 40 with no shadow as shown in FIG. 9A. There is noshadow here, and thus the icon 71 implies to the user by intuition thatthe icon 71 contacts with the thumbnail on the display screen 40 and thethumbnail is operable.

In this state, in Step S3-2 shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whetherthe hand 70 is moved. As shown in FIG. 11B, if it is determined that theuser moves the hand 70 in the direction of an arrow 80, in Step S3-3shown in FIG. 10, the icon 71 on the display screen 40 shown in FIG. 11Ais also similarly moved in the direction of an arrow 81.

In Step S3-4 shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether the hand 70 ismoved horizontally and if it is determined that the hand moveshorizontally, in Step S3-5, the group 41 on the display screen 40 isalso scrolled horizontally, and the user can easily browse the contentsof the group 41. For example, in FIG. 9A, in the case in which the userdesires to see an image 72 outside the display area of the displayscreen 40, as shown in FIG. 11B, the user moves the hand 70 in ahorizontal direction 80, whereby the icon 71 on the display screen 40 ismoved in the horizontal direction 81 as shown in FIG. 11A, and the usercan scroll the image 72 into the display area of the display screen 40.

In addition, in FIG. 11B, in the case in which the user moves the hand70 in the opposite direction of the arrow 80, the group 41 is alsoscrolled in the direction opposite to the horizontal direction 81, theicon can be operated in the opposite direction similarly. In addition,if the hand 70 is moved out of the imaging area and the hand is notdetected, the icon 71 on the display screen 40 is deleted (Step S5 shownin FIG. 6), whereas if the hand 70 again enters the imaging area and thehand is detected, the icon 71 is displayed on the display screen 40(Step S3-1 shown in FIG. 10).

As the characteristic in the scroll, in the case in which the speed ofmoving the user's hand 70 is a certain threshold or above, the group 41keeps scrolling with inertia. When the hand 70 is moved in the oppositedirection to scrolling, the scrolling can be stopped. In the case inwhich the speed of moving the user's hand 70 is a certain threshold orbelow, the group 41 scrolls by a certain amount depending on the travelof the hand 70. Although the threshold is set in advance, the thresholdmay be set by the user him/herself.

As discussed above, the process that changes the speed of scrollingdepending on the rate of travel of the user's hand 70 is executed alonga flow chart shown in FIG. 12 depicting a chart B′ shown in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 12, Steps S3-1 to S3-4 execute the same process steps as thosein Steps S3-1 to S3-4 shown in FIG. 10. Next, in Step S30-1, it isdetermined whether the rate of travel of the user's hand 70 is apredetermined threshold or above. If it is equal to or greater than thethreshold, in Step S30-2, the moving direction of the hand 70 isdetermined.

If the moving direction of the hand 70 is right, in Step 30-3, the group41 (thumbnails) on the display screen 40 is kept scrolling in the rightdirection with inertia. After that, if it is determined that the hand 70is moved left in Step S30-4, the scrolling is stopped (Step S30-5).

If the moving direction of the hand is left, in Step 30-6, the group 41(thumbnails) on the display screen 40 is kept scrolling in the leftdirection with inertia. After that, if it is determined that the hand 70is moved right in Step S30-7, the scrolling is stopped (Step S30-5).

In Step S30-1, if the rate of travel of the user's hand 70 is not equalto or greater than the threshold, in Step S30-8, it is determinedwhether the moving direction of the hand is right.

Then, if the moving direction of the hand 70 is right, in Step S30-9,the thumbnails of the group 41 on the display screen 40 are scrolled inthe right direction by the number of images proportional to the rate oftravel of the hand 70, whereas if the moving direction of the hand 70 isleft, in Step S30-10, the thumbnails of the group 41 on the displayscreen 40 are scrolled in the left direction by the number of imagesproportional to the rate of travel of the hand 70.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13B, if the user holds his/her hand 90 inthe state in which the user extends only the index finger horizontally(third form), the window 11 provided on the recording and reproducingapparatus 10 captures this manner as an image (Step S1 shown in FIG. 6),and the CPU 25 determines whether it is the index finger extendinglaterally (Step S4).

If it is determined that it is the index finger extending laterally, inStep S4-1 shown in FIG. 14 depicting a chart C shown in FIG. 6, an icon91 (third object) in an index finger form is displayed on the displayscreen 40 with no shadow as shown in FIG. 13A. There is no shadow here,and thus the icon 91 implies to the user by intuition that the icon 91contacts with the thumbnail on the display screen 40 and the thumbnailis operable.

In this state, in Step S4-2 shown in FIG. 14, it is determined whetherthe hand 90 is moved. As shown in FIG. 15B, if it is determined that theuser moves the hand 90 in the direction of an arrow 100, in Step S4-3shown in FIG. 14, the icon 91 on the display screen 40 shown in FIG. 15Ais also similarly moved in the direction of an arrow 101.

In Step S4-4 shown in FIG. 14, it is determined whether the hand 90 ismoved vertically. If the hand 90 is moved vertically, in Step S4-5, thegroup 41 on the display screen 40 is rotated along a rotating direction103 shown in FIG. 15A, and moved to the place at which the group 43shown in FIG. 13A was located. At the same time, the group 42 shown inFIG. 13A is rotated along a rotating direction 102 shown in FIG. 15A,and moved to the place at which the group 41 shown in FIG. 13A waslocated. To the place at which the group 42 existed shown in FIG. 13A, agroup 44 that is the subsequent group is rotated from outside thedisplay screen 40, and displayed. Finally, a group name 104 of the group42 is displayed on the display screen 40.

According to the operations, the user can change the group currentlybrowsing from the group 41 shown in FIG. 13A to the group 42 shown inFIG. 15A. For example, in FIG. 13A, in the case in which the userdesired to see an image 92 in the group 42, the user moves the hand 90in a vertical direction 100 as shown in FIG. 15B, whereby as shown inFIG. 15A, the icon 91 on the display screen 40 is moved in a verticaldirection 101, the group 42 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 102correspondingly, the group 42 is turned to be the group currentlybrowsing at a center, and then the user can see the image 92.

In addition, in FIG. 15B, in the case in which the user moves the hand90 in the direction opposite to the vertical direction 100, the icon 91on the display screen 40 is also rotated in the opposite direction ofthe vertical direction 101, the group 41 is rotated in the oppositedirection of the rotating direction 102 correspondingly, and then movedto the place at which the group 42 was located. In other words, thegroups can be switched by the similar operations in the oppositedirection. In addition, if the hand 90 is moved out of the imaging areaand the hand is not detected, the icon 91 on the display screen 40 isdeleted (Step S5 shown in FIG. 6), whereas if the hand 90 again entersthe imaging area and the hand is detected, the icon 91 is displayed onthe display screen 40 (Step S4-1 shown in FIG. 14).

As the characteristics of the operations in switching the groups, inFIG. 15B, in the case in which the speed of moving the user's hand 90 isa certain threshold or above, each of the groups keeps rotating withinertia. When the hand 90 is moved in the direction opposite to therotation, the rotation can be stopped. In the case in which the speed ofmoving the user's hand 90 is a threshold or below, each of the groups isrotated by a predetermined number of times (rotating angle) depending onthe travel of the hand 90. Although the threshold is set in advance, thethreshold may be set by the user him/herself.

As discussed above, the process that changes the rotation speed of eachof the groups depending on the rate of travel of the user's hand 90 isexecuted along a flow chart shown in FIG. 16 depicting a chart C′ shownin FIG. 6, for example.

In FIG. 16, Steps S4-1 to S4-4 execute the same process steps as thosein Steps S4-1 to S4-4 shown in FIG. 14. Subsequently, in Step S40-1, itis determined whether the rate of travel of the user's hand 90 is apredetermined threshold or above. If it is equal to or greater than thethreshold, in Step S40-2, the moving direction of the hand 90 isdetermined.

If the moving direction of the hand 90 is downward, in Step 40-3, all ofthe groups on the display screen 40 are rotated downward with inertia.After that, if it is determined that the hand 90 is moved upward in StepS40-4, the rotation is stopped (Step S40-5).

If the moving direction of the hand is upward, in Step 40-6, all of thegroups on the display screen 40 are kept rotating upward with inertia.After that, if it is determined that the hand 90 is moved downward inStep S40-7, the rotation is stopped (Step S40-5).

In Step S40-1, if the rate of travel of the user's hand 90 is not equalto or greater than the threshold, in Step S40-8, it is determinedwhether the moving direction of the hand is downward.

Then, if the moving direction of the hand 90 is downward, in Step S40-9,all of the groups on the display screen 40 are rotated downward by theangle proportional to the rate of travel of the hand 90, whereas if themoving direction of the hand 90 is upward, in Step S40-10, all of thegroups on the display screen 40 are rotated upward by the angleproportional to the rate of travel of the hand 90.

In addition, if the user holds the hand in the form other than the openhand, the index finger (extending vertically) or the index finger(extending laterally), the window 11 provided on the recording andreproducing apparatus 10 captures this manner as an image (Step S1 shownin FIG. 6), the CPU 25 recognizes that the form is other than thesethree forms (Step S2 to S4 shown in FIG. 6), and the hand icon on thedisplay screen 40 is deleted (Step S5 shown in FIG. 6). In this state,the user can not scroll and rotate the groups and the images on thedisplay screen 40, and the user can browse the images on the screen 40at a slow pace.

In addition, in the embodiment, position information according to theGPS is used to group images. However, the scheme of grouping images isnot limited thereto. For example, images may be grouped based on featureanalysis according to position information according to dates and timesor Wi-Fi (wireless LAN), face recognition of images or the like.

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 17 to 19.

As shown in FIG. 17B, a recording and reproducing apparatus 110 is aportable information display terminal with a camera such as a mobiletelephone and a PDA, or a digital still camera, having an image displaydevice 111. The image display device 111 is a device also serving as aliquid crystal display and an imaging apparatus equipped with a backlight, in which a micro optical sensor is formed in a TFT transistor fora liquid crystal unit; when an object is held over the image displaydevice 111, the optical sensor in the liquid crystal unit can capturethe form of the object as an image. In addition, also in dark places, anobject is illuminated by rays of the back light to capture an image withthe reflected light.

The internal configuration of the recording and reproducing apparatus110 according to the embodiment is configured almost similar to thatshown in FIG. 2. However, it is configured in which on the input side ofthe A/D converting part 22, detection signals of the optical sensor inthe liquid crystal unit are taken instead of the outputs of the opticalpart 20 and the imager 21 shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 17A shows a display screen 40 of the image display device 111 inthe browsing mode n the recording and reproducing apparatus 110. Thedisplay screen 40 is identical to that of the first embodiment.

Here, as shown in FIG. 17B, when a user holds his/her hand 50 over theimage display device 111 in an open hand with respect to the recordingand reproducing apparatus 110, the image display device 111 capturesthis manner as an image. The image signals captured by the image displaydevice 111 are inputted to a CPU 25 to detect the position of the handby using image recognition for the area currently taken. As a schemeapplicable to image recognition, for example, similar to the descriptionabove, such a scheme may be named that the skin tone distribution isdetected based on color information about image signals, and the areaincluding the contour of a hand is specified to compare the area with aplurality of templates of hand forms stored in advance for determiningwhether there is a hand. Then, in the case in which the hand 50 of theuser in the open hand is detected, as shown in FIG. 17A, an icon 51 inthe open hand form is displayed on the display screen 40 with a shadow.The operating method of the open hand on the display screen 40 is thesame as the operations shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, therefor omitting thedescriptions here.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 18B, when the user holds his/her hand 70in the state in which the user stands only the index finger vertically,the image display device 111 provided on the recording and reproducingapparatus 110 captures this manner as an image, and the CPU 25 detectsit as the index finger (extending vertically). Then, as shown in FIG.18A, an icon 71 of the index finger (extending vertically) is displayedon the display screen 40 with no shadow. The operating method of theindex finger (extending vertically) on the display screen 40 is the sameas the operations shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, therefor omitting thedescription.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the user holds his/her hand 90in the state n which the user extends only the index fingerhorizontally, the image display device 111 provided on the recording andreproducing apparatus 110 captures this manner as an image, and the CPU25 detects it as the index finger (extending laterally). Then, as shownin FIG. 19A, an icon 91 of the index finger (extending laterally) isdisplayed on the display screen 40 with no shadow. The operations of theindex finger (extending laterally) are the same as the operations shownin FIGS. 13 to 16, therefor omitting the description.

In addition, in the case in which the user holds the hand in the formother than the open hand, the index finger (extending vertically) or theindex finger (extending laterally), the image display device 111provided on the recording and reproducing apparatus 110 captures thismanner as an image, and the CPU 25 recognizes this form other than thethree forms to delete the hand icon on the display screen 40 (a flowchart shown in FIG. 6). In this state, as similar to the case of thefirst embodiment, the user can not scroll and rotate the groups and theimages on the display screen 40, and the user can browse the images onthe display screen 40 at a slow pace.

In addition, switching images on the display screen 40 (scrolling thegroup and rotating all of the groups) is not limited to these threeforms according to the hands 50, 70, and 90 of the user. The otherforms, for example, a closed first or a closed hand with index andmiddle fingers extended may be used, or a plurality of objects indifferent forms may be used.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a recording means for storing a plurality of images in groups; a display means for displaying images stored in the recording means; a detecting means for detecting a part of a human body or an object in a predetermined form; and a display switching means for switching images to be displayed on the display means in accordance with a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting means.
 2. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting means is a first form, the display switching means displays a first object that switches the displayed image so as to move the first object together with a motion of the part of the human body or the object in the first form.
 3. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting means is a second form, the display switching means displays a second object that switches the displayed image so as to move the second object together with a motion of the part of the human body or the object in the second form, and the display switching means moves the displayed image as the displayed image moving together with the motion of the part of the human body or the object for switching.
 4. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting means is a third form, the display switching means displays a third object that switches the displayed image so as to move the third object together with a motion of the part of the human body or the object in the third form, and the display switching means moves the displayed image as the displayed image moving together with the motion of the part of the human body or the object for switching.
 5. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when a rate of travel of the part of the human body or the object in the second form detected by the detecting means is a predetermined speed or above, the display switching means moves the image faster than an image travel rate when the rate of travel is a predetermined speed or below.
 6. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when a rate of travel of the part of the human body or the object in the third form detected by the detecting means is a predetermined speed or above, the display switching means moves the image faster than an image travel rate when the rate of travel is a predetermined speed or below.
 7. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 8. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 9. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 10. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 11. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 12. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display means horizontally displays images in a main group at a center, and displays images in a group adjacent to the main group above and below the displayed images in the main group.
 13. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display switching means moves the displayed image horizontally.
 14. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display switching means moves the displayed image vertically.
 15. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means has a CCD or a CMOS imager, and the display means has a liquid crystal panel.
 16. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means and display means are configured by a liquid crystal panel having an optical sensor incorporated therein.
 17. The recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays a group name of images in the main group simultaneously.
 18. A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: a recording unit configured to store a plurality of images in groups; a display unit configured to display images stored in the recording unit; a detecting unit configured to detect a part of a human body or an object in a predetermined form; and a display switching unit configured to switch images to be displayed on the display unit in accordance with a form of a part of a human body or a form of an object detected by the detecting unit. 